Happy Birthday Vince (and Mariah)

Vince is my good friend despite our many many differences. We decided earlier this year that we have a bit of a Yin/Yang thing going. I also see us as Nut n' Fluff (one of those sweet popcorn and nuts snacks). I am obviously the pop culture Fluff while he is the cutting edge fact based Nut, but I believe it is our passion for life and new experiences that puts us together (on the Fluff n' Nut box I believe that ingredient would be corn syrup, which may be appropriate for this corny analogy...). Even though Vince would have no use for a birthday horoscope or lucky number analysis, I did some research and learned that Vince shares a birthday with a high profile celebrity. In fact, I believe that he shares more with her than just a birthday. Please see below for my comparison chart on Vince vs. Mariah Carey.

Mariah Carey...Brown eyes
Vince...Brown eyes

Mariah Carey...Wears a size 6
Vince...Could probably wear a size 6


Mariah Carey...Nickname is Mimi
Vince...Has a friend named Mimi

Mariah Carey...Likes curling her hair
Vince...Likes curling

Mariah Carey...Is idolized by 1000s of Canadian girls (and American too)
Vince...Watches Canadian Idol (maybe American too)

Mariah Carey...Struggles with weight issues
Vince...Struggles with wait issues

Mariah Carey...Enjoys wearing minimal clothing to work
Vince...Enjoys wearing minimal clothing to work

and here is a recipe for Nut n' Fluff (no corny syrup required!)

Happy Champagne Birthday Chris

It's always nice to be able to celebrate your extra special birthday a) when you are old enough to drink and b) when you are old enough to remember it! I went to the spaghetti factory for mine when I turned five. I don't remember it at all. For some people though I suppose even if you are old enough to be drinking on your champagne birthday there is a good chance you will wake up the next day and not remember much of it anyway. I found a good website on champagne where you can read all about selecting the right type for the occassion and take a quiz to determine the right champagne for your personality. My type is Spirit.

Here is your birthday horoscope

This is a great year to reinvent yourself, to work on your personal relationship or to work toward a new vocation. Change is important and, although you probably feel like that is all you've been doing these past few years, it's not over yet. Embrace change with open arms and you won't find it so daunting. Your numbers are 9,17,28,32,40,47

The year ahead of you will in many ways be challenging but it will also see you grow in strength as you learn to deal with events that at one time would have knocked you out of your stride. You may dream of an easy life far from everyday problems but you would soon get bored. What you want, and will get, is a sense of achievement.

Coles Notes of A Jill Story from the past 12 days

I took a break from blogging for the last two weeks. Stuff happened. It was rather liberating not having to document it all. Mostly it was a period of learning to take time to slow down and not take things for granted. Here is a brief synopsis

1. Thursday April 6—Grandma landed in the hospital for what was first diagnosed as a mild heart attack. Later determined it was a mild stroke. The woman will be 82 in August but she still thinks she’s 72. Sometimes I forget her age too.
   
   
2. Saturday April 8—Went on a rather sad shopping trip to try to find some new spring clothes. Was feeling so disappointed at the end that I decided to head down to Sears where they had the beautiful NineWest shoes I had been eyeing for weeks and waiting to go on sale. I figured I would just try them on. I experienced yet another shoe miracle when I discovered they were on for 25% off. I took them home with me. I love them. When I wear them I feel like I have a painting on my feet.
   
   
3. Thursday April 13—Sushi round two. Went back to Masa with Joanna and Abby. I was feeling less than bright and cheerful at first. Not sure why. Later went to DQ for blizzards and then to Joanna’s to watch The O.C. By the end I was feeling like myself again. Need more laughing time.
   
   
4. Friday April 14—Visited Grandma who is now stationed at Aunt’s house. She said to me, “you probably like weekends but I hate them. They’re boring.” Grandma has always been a social butterfly but is feeling caged up now that she has been told she has to take things easy. I do love weekends. I especially love the opportunity to take time for myself. At least the choice is mine.
   
   
5. Saturday April 15—Went shopping in Osborne Village to find some new pieces to add to my spring collection. What a lovely and warm spring day. Finally found success. Bought some pants, a skirt, three tops and some underwear. Went to Aunt’s house for Easter dinner. Who’s bright idea was it for all four of us to go in Jill’s truck? Oh yeah, it was mine.
   
   
6. Sunday April 16—went back to Aunt’s house for breakfast—yum and then on to church. Sat in front of a man who sang very loudly and not very well. The Lord said “make a joyful noise” and that was not very joyful. Poor guy, his heart was in the right place. Perhaps church would be more interesting if there were more rounds of communion wine.
   
   
7. Tuesday April 18—Girl at work shared news with me that she got a hit from a cute guy on LavaLife. He sounds really great. I found myself saying “aww, I want one,” to which she responded, “and what have you done lately to get one?” Hmm. Good point. If only finding a guy were as much fun and effortless as shoe shopping. Although shoe shopping can become exhausting sometimes. But I don’t think I will ever become disenchanted with shoes as I have with guys/romance. Also finished reading Memoirs of a Geisha. Good read. Nearly missed the morning bus if it were not for the sweet older man who noticed me and then purposely took his time getting on the bus so I could get there in time.
   
   
8. Today—posted a blog I wrote two weeks ago but was unsure about. Decided I have to stop being afraid to put things out there. Also typed this blog out TWICE because I dared to attempt to work while Blogger was down for service. Actually remembered most of what I typed. Way to go noggin!

An old flame

The other day I said to Abby, “I miss math”. It was something I had been thinking about for a while actually. I don’t know why but I was having this craving to play with numbers. I haven’t really studied math since grade 12 and I haven’t learned any formulas since taking the obligatory science credit in first year university (oh yeah, and a bit in the required CreComm economics class, but that’s CreComm math, not very daunting). I have found that once you enter the creative arts field and are faced with a math problem you can pass it off to someone else with the phrase “I’m not a math person, how do you think I ended up here?” The thing is that there was a time when I was a “math person” but after years of neglecting that area of my brain there’s not much I remember. This piece came out of me exploring just what it was about math I missed, while realizing that the statement “I miss math” sounded like I was talking about a guy I once knew.
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I miss math. We grew quite close in high school after flirting a bit in junior high. Math taught me great things and took me places that changed my life. We had a falling out in second semester of grade 12 though. Typical high school relationship story. Math wanted more out of me. More time together, more commitment. Suddenly things were moving really fast and I just couldn’t put out what math wanted. I remember the long nights, the tears and finally the breakup. We got back together in first year university but couldn’t make it last. At the time we just wanted different things. I suppose I also had my eye on something new.

But now here I am thinking about math, how much I miss math’s logic and brilliance. Math was a great problem solver and helped me to become a stronger one. Just knowing math and being associated with math made me a different person. People look at you differently when you tell them you know math.

I have found myself calling on math in the last few days. Math had so many numbers I can’t remember them all. I don’t have any real reason to call on math except that I’ve had this weird nostalgia for the things we used to do together. I found myself today looking for any excuse, any small problem that I could call up math with.

I found my excuse in an email forward. One of those magic number games. I knew magic had nothing to do with it. Magic is always there trying to steal math’s work. So I parted my way through the words and deception and sure enough standing there behind it all was math. I’ll show you what math was wearing—looked so good today, simple but good.

(20000X+250+2Y-250)/2

I peeled off the layers and broke math down to reveal what I was looking for. The answer was perfect, the process beautiful. I loved the image so much in fact that I posted it on my monitor so I could steal glances at it throughout the day. I haven’t done math in so long I just want to enjoy the moment a bit.

I know writing is my forever true love. As much as I miss math and as much as I get excited working with math we’ll never be what writing and I are together. Math never woke me up in the middle of the night to talk. Math didn’t have much to say when I was going through something rough. Math could give me a likely outcome but it was writing who would walk me through all the different possibilities. It’s always been writing who I day dreamed about when I was looking for a distraction. And as crazy as it sounds, if I was stuck on a deserted island I’d choose writing over math to be the one I’d want with me, keeping me sane and brave.

Maybe I’ll try building things up with math again. Just as friends, for fun mostly. I won’t be afraid to ask math a question and eventually, as we become reacquainted, it won’t take as long to find the answer.

I'll always remember the first time

I experienced something last night I had never done before. Peer pressure made me do it. When I told my friends I had never done it before they were completely surprised. It was a bit awkward and a little messy. I'd never do it on a first date unless I was already really close and comfortable with the guy. It was not at all like what I expected, but I liked it. I'd do it again. I wish my mouth was a bit bigger though. I brought my camera because I wanted to share it with you guys.

So by now you've probably figured out that I had sushi for the first time last night. I met up with a bunch of people from work at this small place on South Pembina called Masa. We had a lot of fun. It surprises me that this group never gets together outside of work. Hopefully this will be a new trend.

I didn't really have any fears of sushi, the whole raw fish thing. I went with two salmon rolls (BC Roll and Philadelphia Roll) and one cooked beef roll. I wanted to try a tuna roll but they didn't have that one available. Hollene was kind enough to let me try a piece of tuna from this dish of stuff she ordered. I loved it. Why on earth do we cook this stuff? It's like the difference between well done and medium rare/rare beef. Yes I know Rob, I'm such a savage.

I wasn't kidding up there though, I did find it a bit awkward and I would NOT want to do it for a first date. You don't have much choice but to put the entire piece in your mouth. The chipmunk look cannot be attractive. I worked the chopsticks alright at least. The one surprise was that we were sat at one of those traditional Japanese tables--table in the pit, cushions on the floor y'know? I was feeling springy that night so I had opted to not wear socks with my new flat shoes so it felt a bit strange sitting at a table with no socks or shoes on. How is that I keep having these socks and shoes problems? Me! The shoe girl!

So who was there, let's see. Me, Abby the designer, Joanna from E-Media, Amara my team mate and new neigbour, Hollene the designer, Jean the French proofreader and his partner Nathaniel, Alexis from the admin team and her two kids Isabelle(2) and Jose(12?). Alexis warned us that Isabelle really likes boys and so she took quite a shining to Jean. Poor girl will eventually learn that no matter how cute she is and how much she bats those long eyelashes, she won't always be able to get the guy she's after. Hehe.

After the restaurant the girls stopped in at Winners before calling it a night. We all agreed it was too short. Hopefully there will be a repeat outing that will last longer and include more drinking.